BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE: Eight Classic 360 Games Go Backwards Compatible Today

In what may be the largest release of backwards compatible games since the launch of backwards compatibility, Microsoft is releasing eight classic 360 games playable on the Xbox One with backwards compatibility.

SONIC 4 Episode I, SONIC 4 Episode  II, CAPCOM Arcade Cabinet, PAC-MAN Museum, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, NEOGEO Battle Coliseum, Crystal Defenders and Fret Nice are coming to backwards compatibility today.

*As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

The sequel you've waited 16 years to see, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG™ 4 Episode I. Get ready for an all new 2D adventure!

The Sonic 4 Saga continues in Episode II with the return of a beloved side kick and fan-favorite villains! Following the events of Episode I, Metal Sonic has returned to form an alliance with Dr. Eggman! To face this new evil, Sonic will have to call upon an old friend to help him save the day! Now joined by Tails, race across four new Zones and take down fearsome new badniks with deadly combination moves in order to put an end to this dastardly duo’s plans! Experience the Sonic 4 saga as never before with the addition of a brand new engine; bringing you gameplay with updated physics and zones in stunning HD graphics! Also new to Episode II is the addition of online/local collaborative play where players can team up with a friend to take control of Sonic and Tails as they battle against Dr. Eggman!

Capcom's pedigree arcade games are back! Take on players from around the world in "score attack" and even play together with online co-op! (Only for titles that support this feature.) Check out these classic games, now loaded with a "casual mode" geared towards newcomers and other new features. Try out "Black Tiger", "1943" and " Avengers"!

 Pac-Man Museum includes 9 classic Pac-Man arcade games, including the original Pac-Man that spread Pac-Man Fever around the world in the 1980s. PAC-MAN stars in a nostalgia-packed collection of the greatest PAC-MAN games of all time. PAC-MAN MUSEUM will include classic PAC-MAN titles as well as newer releases, allowing gamers to play through the evolution of PAC-MAN from his humble beginnings from 1980 through current hits like PAC-MAN Championship Edition and PAC-MAN Battle Royale. To celebrate debut of "PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures", the characters from the cartoon have burst into PAC-MAN MUSEUM! Head to the Pac-Room to check out more than 70 characters and items! Challenge your friends and the best players in the world on your favorite PAC-MAN game with worldwide leaderboards. PAC-Mania lives!

Capcom presents the next evolution in retro side-scrolling action with Bionic Commando Rearmed 2.  Equipped with his famous bionic arm, Nathan “Rad” Spencer swings back into action in order to stop General Sabio from launching a deadly missile strike. Swing, leap, and shoot your way through lush new environments as you encounter countless enemies and huge bosses throughout the island of Papagaya.

 NeoGeo Special Cast unleashes this tag-team versus fighter. In addition to original heroes and heroines, it features a host of unique characters that transcend time; armed with weapons and robots warriors from both old and new titles of the once dominant NeoGeo platform have been amassed under one roof.

Crystal Defenders is a strategy game in which players deploy jobs from FINAL FANTASY Tactics A2 to fend off encroaching enemy hordes. Players can enjoy over 300 stages of action in one of three different game versions. W1 will teach game basics. W2 introduces Power Crystals which allow for deeper, more detailed strategies. The complex maps of W3 will challenge even the most seasoned players.

FRET NICE™ is a 2D platformer that’ll rock your world. Control your character through funky-fresh stages to explore hidden areas, collect items, and clash note-for-note with outrageous, heavy metal bosses! Rock out by blasting enemies with riff combos and creating your own sounds with each “strum” of a chord!

BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY: Three More 360 Games Playable on the One Today

After the big RDR Backwards Compatibility release the other day, todays release of three more Backwards Compatible games is a little underwhelming.

Tour de France 2009, Half Minute Hero & FLOCK! are coming to Xbox One Back Compatibility today.

*As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

Tour de France 2009 is the most famous cycling race's official simulation game. Choose one of the 18 official teams and lead it through 2009 edition's 21 official legs by interacting directly on you riders. Early breakaways, fights for jerseys, sprints are some of the possible behaviors that are particularly specific to the sport. Race up to 4 players, wheel to wheel, on Live Arcade to lead your team to the highest step on the podium.

The world is at its end, and you have 30 seconds to save it. Welcome to HALF-MINUTE HERO -Super Mega Neo Climax-! A complete hypersonic RPG adventure: start your quest, meet people who need your help, fight through dark dungeons, earn money, upgrade equipment, level up, level up, level up, and take down the final boss…all in just half a minute! There are 62 entire RPGs in HALF-MINUTE HERO, each with its own leaderboard to earn medals and compete with friends. You’ve never played an RPG like this before!

 Protect your cornfields and lock up your livestock, because FLOCK is here! Herd cute, cuddly animals through over 50 sandbox puzzles with the help of your UFO tractor beam! Flock together with a friend, and even create and share your own crazy levels online with the built-in level editor! With so much to do, the potential for fun is out of this world!

YSK: Tips to Open NAT on Xbox One

Can your Xbox One connect to Xbox Live, but you can’t hear your friends online within a game or a party? Or are you unable to host or join a particular multiplayer game? If so, then you may be encountering a Network Address Translation (NAT) related issue.

NAT issues can be a very tricky issues to diagnose, most of the time the Nat issues has to do with your router settings and since there are hundreds of routers out there and each one has different settings all I can do is give you tips on how to have an open NAT on Xbox One.

First, we’ll want to check your current NAT type. To do this:

1. Scroll left from Home to open the guide.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Select Network.

If your NAT Type is showing anything other than open, you may have issues with Party Chat, playing multiplayer games, and other internet related issues.

Tip One:

Hard Rest:  This fixes most Xbox One Issues

With console on touch the power button for 10 sec, the console will shut down. Once off, turn it back on. It will take longer to boot than normal. you will NOT lose any data. If you do not get the green Xbox Screen you did it wrong and have to do it again.

Tip Two:

The Multiplayer Connection Test Trick:

1. Scroll left from Home to open the guide.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select All Settings.
4. Select Network.
5. Select Multiplayer Connection Test

When the test is finished running if it does not say "It's All Good" there may be other internet issues that need to be addressed that these tips won't help with.

If the test says "It's All Good", DO NOT select continue yet, instead with the controller, press both bumpers (LB + RB) and both triggers (LT + RT) and hold all four at the same time. This sends a sort of refresh signal to your router

You will then see a "Detailed Networks Statictics" Screen, if it says NAT TYPE: Open and the "Detailed NAT Information" says "Your Network is behind a cone NAT" Your NAT is Now OPEN.  If Not continue reading.

Tip Three:

Go in to your Router settings.  Since each router is diffrent I can't tell you how to access your settings, just google your router name and model and settings or Admin menu.

The settings your looking for is: UPnP and Enable Zero Config.  On my router they are under Advanced Settings, Device Discovery.  You want to make sure they are both enabled or turned on.

If they are both already turned on, turn them off and reset your router.  Then go back in turn both of those settings on and reset your router again.  Recheck your NAT on the Xbox One.  If it's Open good, if not continue reading.

Tip Four

Use the official Xbox Live "Xbox One Multiplayer Game Solution Troubleshooter" here: http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/networking/nat-error-solution.  Just answer each question and follow the steps provided.  If it works your all good, if not you may have to try Port Forwarding.

Tip Five:

Port Forwarding.

 Port forwarding is for advanced users.  The best place to find a toutorial is at http://portforward.com/

Just go to http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Xbox_One/ look for your router on the list and follow the steps provided.

I hope this helps you get an Open NAT. If  none of this gets your NAT open, you'll have to call support or do some heavy google searching, as Networking is not my strong point,

BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE: Interpol is coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today

After one of the most anticipated backwards compatible releases ever RDR, Microsoft announced,  Interpol is coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today.


*As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

As an elite Interpol agent, it is your mission hunt down the evil Dr. Chaos. Gather hidden clues in this exciting seek and find game as it takes you around the world investigating elaborate crime scenes and clever mini-games. Complete missions in 4 player co-op to quickly gather the evidence needed. Unlock the full game now to bring this criminal to justice!

NOT XBOX, BUT COOL: Nintendo is launching a minature NES this holiday

Ninendo has announced today that they're launching a miniature NES called the Nintendo Classic Mini on November 11, priced at $60. It's a "near-identical" replica, works by way of HDMI, and includes 30 games (you can view the full list below). It'll also include an AC adapter and a classic controller "patterned after the iconic design of the original." You can also buy additional controllers for $10 -- and they will work when connected to a Wii Remote to work with Virtual Console NES games on Wii or Wii U (neat).

I doubt it will be a massive hit outside of the collector crowd since it's basically a glorified ROM player, but there are so many of those people these days it probably doesn't matter. The $10 controller that works on Wii consoles sounds dope though!

Click Read More for the full list of games

NEW ACCESSORY: Xbox One S Kinect Adapter Price Revealed

If you want to connect your Kinect to Xbox One S or Windows 10 PC, according to a new listing on Amazon, it's going to cost you $40.

Microsoft posted a new listing on the etailer for an "Xbox Kinect Adapter for Xbox One S and Windows 10 PC" with a listing price of four Hamiltons here in the US and £33 in the UK.

At first glance, the connector looks almost identical to the Microsoft Kinect for Windows Adapter the company started selling last year in everything but name.

When the Xbox One S was unveiled at E3 2016, it was hard to spot a weakness. It's smaller and more powerful than the original box, and it somehow squeezes the massive power brick from the Xbox One inside the S's miniature frame.

Despite all of the positives, however, it was missing the proprietary Kinect port that would allow owners of Microsoft's 1080p camera to connect it to the back of the Xbox One S – something that upset gamers who had bought into the original Xbox One package that included the peripheral.
That said, the adapter promises a solution to that problem for gamers willing to shell out a little extra to bring motion and voice-controls to Microsoft's mini Xbox One when it comes out in August.

NEWS: Capture Cards Now Supported For Twitch Broadcasters On Xbox Live

Today, in partnership with Twitch, we’re pleased to announce capture card support for Twitch Xbox One broadcasters on Xbox Live. Previously, only Xbox One players broadcasting their gameplay via the Xbox Twitch app could take advantage of the several different ways to amplify their content and channel on Xbox Live to share updates and grow their audience. Now, any Twitch user who has linked their Xbox Live and Twitch accounts together and is broadcasting an Xbox One game using a capture card will automatically have their content amplified in the following places:

•  The Activity Feed on Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS and Android
•  Notifications to their followers on Xbox One and the Xbox app on Windows 10, iOS and Android
• Game Product Details Page in the Xbox Store

To make sure your Twitch broadcasts are amplified across Xbox Live, all you need to do is link your Xbox Live and Twitch accounts within the Twitch app. From there, use your favorite capture card and broadcasting software on PC, broadcast to Twitch like you normally do, and ensure you’re correctly identifying the game you’re playing. And that’s it! This new feature is starting to roll out today and I look forward to seeing all of your Twitch broadcasts on Xbox Live!

BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE: Red Dead Redemption Now Backwards Compatible

After a leak and a long time, Red Dead Redemption is now backwards compatible on Xbox One.

*As always, those that own these games digitally will be able to download them again for free from the "Ready to Download" section of the Xbox One. If you own Alan Wake on disc, you can also put this in and the necessary files required to make it work will be downloaded.

America, 1911. The Wild West is dying. When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to pick up his guns again and hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends. Experience an epic fight for survival across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico, as John Marston struggles to bury his blood-stained past, one man at a time.

NEW RELEASE: Hawken Xbox One

Hawken

Pilot hulking death machines and use massive weaponry to destroy your foes in fast-paced FPS gameplay. HAWKEN is a multiplayer first person shooter that places you inside a mechanized war machine on the battlefield of a dystopian world. With tactical, fast-paced gameplay in customizable and upgradable mechs across multiple competitive modes, HAWKEN is explosively fun. Features 26 mechs, 9 environments and 6 game modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Missile Assault, Siege, Coop Bot Destruction, and Coop vs AI Team Deathmatch modes.

NEW RELEASE: The Banner Saga 2

The Banner Saga 2

The award-winning adventure continues in Banner Saga 2! This epic, story-based, role-playing game continues its emotional journey across a breaking world. Bold leadership decisions, wise use of resources, and skillful battle tactics are vital to ensure your Viking clans make it through alive. If played, your choices will carry over from the first game, or you can start fresh with new preset characters.

The Banner Saga 2 is FREE for Xbox Live Gold members during the month of July with #GamesWithGold.